Page 75 of Never Too Late

He’s always had a bubbly personality deep down. He was quiet when he first joined us, but over time, he got used to being around us and now, we can’t seem to shut him up.

He’s never gone into much detail about his past, we didn’t ask him about it. It was obvious he wanted to forget. The only thing he had mentioned was being in ‘the system’ and as soon as he was old enough to get out, he joined the forces. We’ve done what we can since to make sure we made his life the best it could be. Another one of the guys, Ricky, was from the system too. We’d heard the horror stories. We’d seen the effects. We unfortunately lost him on tour in ’22 and we refused to lose another one of us.

Noah nonchalantly gets out of the car, his hair is much shorter since the last time I saw him. He’s not far off being bald. I could probably see my reflection in his forehead if I tried.

I think he’s grown taller too.

He stands in front of me, slowly lifting his arm, with his fingers touching the side of his head.

Saluting his officer.

“None of that, brother,” I sigh as I pull him into my arms for a hug. “You saved my life, Noah. I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn’t for you.” I am washed over with an overwhelming feeling of happiness and joy for us both being here, both making it out alive. While I’m also hit with an overwhelming sadness for those we’ve lost. Those who could also be here with us right now if we’d just worked a little harder. If we pushed ourselves more. We may have been able to get more people out.

“How is the battle wound holding up?” he says, pulling himself back from my arms. “Let me see the handiwork.”

I shake my head at his question, not in anger, but I’m happy he’s the same he was when we first left. Sometimes being on tour, people change. The memories get too much. The screams, the cries, the destruction, the bombing. The death. It changes you. Hell, I’m surprised it hasn’t changed me.

But maybe it has.

Lifting the side of my shirt, I show him the wound on my side from the bullet as he lets out a low whistle. “Well, ain’t that a beauty huh?” Typical Noah.

We stare at each other for a few more moments before we break out in an anxious laugh.

We made it.

And then the rain starts coming down, hard.

“Come on, let’s get inside where it’s warm.” I wave towards him as I start to make my way towards the door. “You can get your bag later, leave it in the car for now. I have some stuff you can change into.”

As soon as we’re both in the house, I make my way towards the burner, already loading it up with wood to get a fire started. Noah walks around the conjoined kitchen and living room area inspecting the place I now call home.

“This is nice, I can see why you decided to move out here. You’ve always spoken about when you got out, you’d move away into the open. I’m glad you got your wish, Jae. Your smile looks good on you.”

I turn to face him as soon as I get the fire started. “Yeah, I feel lucky, I guess. As soon as I heard this place came up for sale, I felt like it was meant to be, kinda. It just felt right, you know?”

“Yeah, it’s beautiful. It really is. Issac told me about it. We were able to get a phone call after you had your hearing. I know we normally leave the calls to those who have families, but we were worried about you on the field. We had to know you were okay.” He coughs low. “I had to know.”

I throw him a soft smile. The two of us had no family at home waiting for us, we quickly became each other’s family.

“I don’t know if I’m ever going to be able to repay you, Noah.”

“For what?” He shakes his head. “You don’t have to repay me for anything. I was doing my job. I was doing what I was trained for. I was doing what you would have done for me.”

And he’s right. I’d have done the same for any of my brothers. I did the same for other brothers.

After quickly checking my phone in the console table for a text from Dax, which I haven’t got, I take a seat on the sofa opposite him with a sad smile.

Dax will be okay. Don’t worry. He’s fine.

“It doesn’t get any easier, does it?” Noah asks, leaning his elbows on his knees with his face in his hands.

“What doesn’t?”

“Being out. Does it feel like you’re out? Do you ever wish you weren’t?”

“I don’t know what I think about it honestly, Noah. I’m glad I’m out, but I’m also sad. I wish my time didn’t end the way it did, but it did. No amount of sadness or guilt or any other feeling can change that. So, I just gotta live with it. I’m happy with my life here, though, I feel like I can finally relax. Life is good. It feels colourful again.”

His eyes fixate on my own.

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